So often when we utter the word “adventure” we are usually thinking of or referring to far off places. The kinds of places that require either long road trips or a plane ride … with a few connecting flights en route. While those certainly live up to being noteworthy adventures, maybe we need to expand on the term “adventure” a bit.

We all crave new vistas to see, new experiences to be had, and new places to explore. That becomes especially true when we feel as if we’ve explored every nook and cranny around home … and we probably have. So we read magazines, continuously scroll through our social media feeds, and surf the internet for our next great adventure.

If it is any consolation, I feel the same. And then in the midst of frustration feeling like I “settled” for a lowly local excursion the unthinkable happens … I go on a fun and amazing adventure. Whether here in the city of Portland or in the surrounding areas I spend a lot a time exploring. It doesn’t matter If I’m on foot or by bike it means a camera in hand (or bag). I am constantly amazed by how much I miss that is right under my nose. A few weeks ago was one such outing.

We drove downtown and parked our car, grabbed our cameras, and set off on foot to walk through a neighborhood that we’ve driven by innumerable times, but never got off the main thoroughfare to explore. It was utterly amazing. I had been all over this part of the city, but again, always driving or even biking along the main corridors. It wasn’t until I slowed down and took the narrow side street that a whole new world opened up to me. It was as if I was transported to a completely new city. It was almost unrecognizable. It wasn’t the Portland that I thought I knew. It made me love my city even that much more.

The connecting point in all of our travels is always coffee. It’s coffee first … and the explore. Next week we’re doing this same kind of trip, but in San Francisco. What’s priority #1? Planning our days around coffee. But since I’m home my trips begin and end with Loam Coffee. There’s the usual pre-trip checklist … camera, camera bag, extra batteries, make sure we have our memories card, extra lenses, rain gear (most often), and then coffee. We don’t walk out the door without coffee. That means slowing down and either brewing 2-3 cups with an aeropress (one at a time), pourovers, or brew all at once with a chemex. Once brewed, the coffee is poured into our insulated mugs, tucked into the pockets of our camera bags, and out the door we go.

I admit that at times these trips do feel a but underwhelming or uninspiring and we had one such adventure yesterday. We had been debating whether to take a trip to the coast or head in the opposite direction to central Oregon. In the end we stayed local and drove a few minutes over to Forest Park. While it is definitely one of the crown jewels in Portland, it doesn’t elicit the same excitement as walking along the beach at the coast or trekking up some high desert ridge line. Reluctantly we went … with cameras and coffee.

It ended up pouring rain our entire drive over. Torrential downpour. If we didn’t have second thoughts before we left we certainly did at that point. But since it was a quick drive to one of the trailheads what did we have to lose? Sure enough, the rain broke by the time we parked and the sun was already peeking out. The whole plan we to get out, walk, take photos, and look for anything interesting. I wouldn’t even call it a hike … but it didn’t matter. As soon as you step onto the trail and into the forest you’re swept away into a whole new world. Within seconds the car is out of sight and all you can see is the lush forest floor beneath the tree canopy.

We walked, talked, and took photos. That was it. Truth be told, we only walked two miles. But it was the kind of trip that revealed to me again how much I take backyard adventures for granted. I just needed a different vantage point. It could be simply be starting at another trailhead, wait until the conditions are different (like rainy or foggy), or something else like that. That’s enough to make the mundane seem like a whole new adventure.

How about you? I’m sure there are all kinds of places to explore and experiences to be had right out your back door. All you need to do is bring your coffee, curiosity, and impulse to explore.

Words and Photos by Sean Benesh